UK Model A: An American Hot Rod in England
Text by Weldon Steel and Photos by Mike Key
UK Model A: An American Hot Rod in England
This gold Model A coupe actually has quite a history. It made it all the way into the ‘60s before being turned into a hot rod somewhere in Arizona. It ran around in the heat for a couple of decades wearing a nasty shade of brown before it was exported to England, where it bounced around for a couple more decades before falling into the hands of Adrian Smith and Lynn Stafford.
Adrian blew the car apart to clean up the welding and bracketry a bit. Items like the front and rear four-bar suspension systems were reused, but remounted to the frame and just about every suspension component was chrome plated or painted white, while the frame was painted gold.
Lynn stripped the body of the suspect brown paint, and he found plenty of body filler and wavy steel, but surprisingly very little rust. Once all of the bodywork was sorted out, the underside of the body and the fenders were painted white, while the topside of the body and the inside were treated to a fresh coat of gold, or more specifically Toyota Yellow Pearl by Steve and Jay Bradley.
The motor is the Chevrolet 350-ci power plant that was in the car when Adrian and Lynn picked up the coupe. The same goes for the TH350 transmission and the 8-inch Ford rear axle. Adrian did swap out the intake and carburetor for an Edelbrock 2 x 4 setup he picked up as a complete unit from Speedway Motors. Paired with the chrome alternator and the cast aluminum valve covers, the engine looks right at home in front of the recessed firewall.
Between the doors, you’ll notice the chrome roll bar that also doubles as the seat mounts. Another thing that stands out are the custom aluminum gauge spacers that allow for the use of modern gauges in the stock dash while still using the stock fuel tank. All of the upholstery on the coupe’s interior is white vinyl tuck n’ roll that was stitched up by a local trim shop and installed by Adrian and Lynn.
Adrian and Lynn would like to thank Don for the metalwork and Andy for the chrome plating as well as Steve and Jay Bradley for all of the paint and bodywork.
The no-nonsense steering column, the flake steering wheel and all of the chrome accents scream ‘60s show rod.
A lumpy cam and a pair of Edelbrock four-barrel carburetors ensure that there is plenty of horsepower to scoot this coupe down the road.
About the only angle where you can catch a glimpse of the chrome-plated roll bar is directly from the front of the car.
The stock length rear fenders look great on the back of this car in combination with the Nerf bars.
The bucket seats are actually mounted to the roll bar to get them up off the floor and make them look like they are almost floating.
Pie crust slicks that just peek out from inside of the rear fenders are an unmistakable trait of a ‘60s hot rod.
To use modern gauges in the stock dash in conjunction with the stock fuel tank, a couple of custom spacers had to be machined out of aluminum to pull the gauges out enough so that their backside would clear the fuel tank.
Chassis
Frame/Manufacturer: Ford boxed
Wheelbase: 103 inches
Rearend: 8-inch Ford 3.77:1
Rear Suspension: Pete & Jake’s four-bar/coil-overs
Rear Brakes: Drum
Front Suspension: Pete & Jake’s four-bar/drop beam/transverse leaf
Front Brakes: ‘40s Ford drum
Master Cylinder: Swing pedal/firewall mount Mustang
Steering Box: Mustang
Steering Linkage: Chrome
Steering Column: Non-tilt
Front Wheels: 15 x 6 chrome steel with bullet cap
Front Tires: 5.20 x 15 wide whitewall
Rear Wheels: 15 x 7 chrome steel with bullet cap
Rear Tires: 8.20 x 15 wide whitewall slicks
Fuel Tank: Stock
Engine
Make/Displacement: 350-ci Chevrolet
Machining/Assembly: Unknown
Heads: Steel
Alternator: Chrome one-wire
Manifold/Induction: Edelbrock 2 x 4
Valve Covers: Cast Chevrolet
Ignition: Mallory Dual point
Exhaust: Custom
Transmission: TH350
Shifter: Lokar
Body
Body Style/Manufacturer: 1930 Ford Model A coupe
Hood: None
Radiator: Brass
Grille: 1930 Ford
Bodywork By: Steve and Jay Bradley
Paint Type/Color: Toyota Yellow Pearl
Painted By: Steve and Jay Bradley
Headlights: Ford
Taillights: Ford
Other Body Modifications: Recessed firewall
Interior
Dash: 1930 Ford
Gauges: Mooneyes
Stereo: None
Wiring: Minimal
Steering Wheel: Metalflake gold
Upholstery By: Owners
Fabric/leather Color: White vinyl
Seat Manufacturer: Unknown
